Lightning Headphones: Are They Better or Just an Inconvenience?

[ReneR]

That the tested headphone was less loud and sounded less "good" via good old 3.5mm plug may be simple due to the integrated interface electronics, ...

Plenty of classic headphones sound awesome on my iPhone 6S, like the Sony MDR-7506.
The MDR-7506 sound awesome no matter if I plug them in my farther's Revox B77, Technics turntable, my rMBP or an iPhone or even vintage iPod.

And the fact that this lightning headphone sounds crap via classic cable proofs even more why I do not want this to connect to a Mac, or classic stereo.

Btw. to all the lighting lovers: When you loose it on a business trip or holiday and have no Apple store insight you will understand why in my opinion this is a superfluous development. You can not simply plug a regular headphone into your new iDevice, ... ;-)

 

[agentx]

My vote is USB-C as well and keep headphone jack ;-)
Overall thinner phone is less battery which is already on the edge.
Bluetooth is fine when using AptX but not that good when not using IMHO.

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

So how many cars have a built in DAC to connect music to the audio system. Bluetooth connection is generally very low quality (especially with the iPhone SE where even voice is dreadful quality). I suppose it means yet another cable with a DAC in it from Lightning to a 3.5mm jack. I am actually still using the 30 pin connector via a Denison ICE 500 Gateway to connect an iPod Classic to my cars optical fibre (MOST) system. I do have an Apple 30 pin to lightning adapter, so I can connect my iPhone 5S and SE but it does not work very well, with play stopping all the time. Very irritating when you are listening to an audiobook.

 

[wyarp]

As someone who listens to music at work with headphones while charging...no thanks.

Doesn't that cause a bit of cable hassle? Also, my iPhone only takes a few hours to charge from flat to 100%, so why would you need to be sat the entire working day plug into the power whilst also having your headphones in?

 

[ForkHandles]

With the usb forum coming out with usb-c audio, is there any chance Apple would ditch lightening and go C? They were integral in its creation and first to adopt it, which would make the headphones usable in their laptops as well as the multitude of other devices that will presumably use the tech. I believe I've heard one other smartphone already has C. Also, data rates on C are so much faster and no limitations on charging capabilities, meaning they could up that side of things if they can find a way to charge phones faster.

Seems like a no brainier to me.

USB C certainly would be less contentious than a lightning port on an iPhone . Guess if this was the case then the rumour will would have put put something out there a few months ago. It doesn't really sound very Apple-esque to use too many standards out there though, they kind of like the £30 charge for a new lead that cost nearly a £1 to produce.

 

[American Hero]

I can easily nuke my battery by lunch if it is a busy day.

Obviously you need a new phone then. My phone is hardly down to 70% before lunch and I use it constantly.

 

[roadkill401]

It was an interesting vlog, but it sort of lacked a few key points that I would love to know.

1. The tests of each headphone was done like a silo. So for example, the test of the $45 ear buds, the reviewer said there was an improvement in sound. But failed to say compared to what. Did he make that judgement compared to the 'free' pair of earbuds that ship with the iphone? or was that compared to a similarly priced ($45) pair of earbuds that only have the 3.5mm jack?

2. When you start to compare the more expensive headphones, you are no longer going with the cheep amp that comes inside of the iPhone. So to continue from point 1, are you now comparing the quality of a better amp inside a lightning headphone against a pair of headphones that are trying to use the iPhone as the only source of amplification? I have a pair of $100 AudioTechnica M50x and a Fios MontBlonc external amp. it gives me more sound and better dynamics over just the headphones plugged into my iPhone. So when saying that the lightning headphones sound better, are you comparing against a set of headphones with an external amp?

3. Now that you have gone external with the dac and amp in the headphones, what powers them? There was a total lack of comment on how this effects the battery life of the device? Nothing in this world is free, so is the lightning option more efficient at driving a headphone that is powered by the phone? Does the headphones need to be plugged in.

4. This also misses out on the other option of putting an external dac/amp that can be used with the current headphones that you have. a quick search to google found http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/one-dac but I am sure there are other option out there. A device like this has a second benefit in the external unit can have it's own bigger internal battery that charges the iPhone while you are listening to your music. no need to replace your high end headphones that you can use everywhere else.

 

[6836838]

Doesn't that cause a bit of cable hassle? Also, my iPhone only takes a few hours to charge from flat to 100%, so why would you need to be sat the entire working day plug into the power whilst also having your headphones in?

To save battery cycles and thus batter wear.
[doublepost=1462886727][/doublepost]

Then apple would not need to bring "stereo speakers" on iPhone and fool customers "we are bringing theatre quality audio on mobile device".

They are not bringing anything new. They are only removing the jack!

 

[Shirasaki]

they are not bringing anything new. They are only removing the jack!

Then I will not upgrade. Simple.
Removing jack is a no-no.

 

[6836838]

Any good headphones worth their salt (I.e. Noise Cancelling) need a charge anyways. Power sources are literally all around us, even in the air, and most wireless headphones last at least 20 hours.

No one who respects HiFi uses notice cancelling phones. No one. These were invented for the business class flying suits who have no idea about audio quality. Bose headphones would never even feature on a HiFi enthusiasts wish list.

 

[Mac 128]

False. If Apple moves to a mostly Bluetooth connection scheme, it will adversely affect audio quality, period.

If Apple removes the 3.5, it will require a connector to achieve the prior quality, or a new set of cans.

The reality is that unless they have rewritten the BT Spec so that it can pass 256kbps AAC stereo, it will be officially worse without a dongle. The quality of the encode you buy from the store will be technically superior than the protocol charged with getting it to your ears.

I'd like to say it's not the case, but that's what we're staring at right now. My money is on a Lightning DAC adapter in the box, and as an investor, that pisses me off.

Based on everything Apple has ever introduced, I'm expecting some new innovation nobody was anticipating.

Everyone here is assuming that Apple is going to get rid of the 3.5mm jack in order to push a proprietary solution when they don't have to, despite the competition, which makes absolutely no sense for a feature so arguably important.

They also assume that Apple is just going to offer the same level of current BT technology as a substitute. When has Apple ever just regurgitated the same solution as everybody else, at least without improving it somehow? They would be foolish to offer BT headphones that were identical to every pair already available with all the same short comings.

And if Apple does all of this as I'm expecting, significantly improving wireless audio as we know it, even if it's proprietary, then why would they offer an adapter in the box to discourage adoption of the new standards?

Assuming Apple really drops the 3.5mm jack in the iPhone 7, my money is on Apple re-thinking music delivery, and offering a wireless experience no one else can. Who cares if it's proprietary? Apple's entire ecosystem is proprietary. If it's better, it's worth it. For those who have greater needs, then there's Lightning, which is going to do far more than offer an alternate connection for headphones, so there's that. And ultimately, if I'm right and Apple is not doing anything the competition isn't going to be eventually forced to do to compete by removing the headphone jack, then Apple will have a head start over them by doing this now. Otherwise they're complete idiots.

 

[6836838]

I don't understand what's wrong with the wireless/Bluetooth headphone option? There are great ones to use starting at $20 on Amazon and up depending on your purchase preference. No reason to stay wired any more practically and even those wireless headphones come with a wiring option.

Every audiophile is the country is laughing at you right now.

 

[cmichaelb]

Speakers work using electromagnetic waves to power the drivers (probably not enough to do damage)

...and not in my ear canal directly.

 

[6836838]

Then I will not upgrade. Simple.
Removing jack is a no-no.

They will make out that they are bringing an 'all digital experience' by throwing in some cheap apple lightening buds. But any audiophile or person with a modecum of tech sense will realise the con. I fear most journalists will be fool though.

 

[cmichaelb]

I think that if Apple didn't use proprietary connectors, then people wouldn't be outraged when they change. They are making this problem themselves. You nailed it though, lightening is about control and tightening it in any way possible (ecosystem).

Honestly I'm just fed up with this stuff.
[doublepost=1462849645][/doublepost]

I suppose that's your personal preference, and that's fine. I have many devices which use USB mini and micro connectors, it's honestly not that big of a deal to me.
[doublepost=1462850028][/doublepost]

I suppose the question is that it can do a quick charge NOW while it's new, but does the quick charge feature still actually work after a year or two?

No? Just throw away in the trash can under your desk and buy a new one. Who cares if it's wasteful.

So charge it overnight. It's really not been an issue for me. I've had to quick charge once I think. A full charge last for months.

 

[6836838]

I'm not really convinced that this forum's members represent any kind of real world sample. Most are tech enthusiasts and tend to err on the side of backward compatibility with pre-existing technologies. On any given debate there's about 50% for and 50% against.

Now take an actual sample from the real world:

http://www.macnn.com/articles/16/01...o.ask.apple.shoppers.what.they.thought.131986



I'd take that survey over what I see on this site on any given topic. Either way, it's debatable that Apple would be making a mistake if it's customers really come down on the issue according to the macnn sample.

Where Apple would be making a mistake is arbitrarily removing a headphone jack they don't have to yet remove to make improvements to the iPhone, when their competition is not also in the same position, especially at this particular crossroads. Given that Intel is also pushing digital audio, I have to believe that all mobile phone companies are in the same boat, and it's only a matter of time before all flagship phones with identical features will be forced to leave the 3.5mm jack behind.

When will people realise that digital audio is not a thing! Our ears are analogue instruments. Phones are always going to output in analogue!

 

[1129708]

Our iPhones today include a 3.5mm headphone jack with a built-in digital to analog converter, or DAC, for playing music, which is then amplified through a built-in amp. Size and cost constraints associated with the 3.5mm headphone jack limit the quality of the DAC and amp, but in Lightning-connected headphones, the DAC and the amp are built into the headphones themselves instead of the iPhone, allowing manufacturers to control sound quality.

First off, the 3.5mm jack is not going to be the limiting factor of the quality of the DAC and amp used. It's not a pumpkin contest, DAC quality isn't somehow connected to how large they are. Also, now you're going to have to research every headphone that much more since they'll all have different DACs of various quality, not to mention the fact that that the power for whatever amp they use still has to come from the phone, meaning you've gained nothing in the power department advantage-wise. But you have increased the cost of the headphones.

In our tests, all of the Lightning-connected headphones, from the $45 pair to the $800 pair, sounded better than comparable headphones connected to an iPhone using the 3.5mm jack, so while many of us may be disappointed with the inconvenience of no headphone jack, at least there's the silver lining of better quality audio when using Lightning-connected headphones.

Sound better how? Comparable how? This is vague, useless snake oil. The idea that the connector has anything to do with the sound quality of the headphones is ludicrous.

 

[JGRE]

Every audiophile is the country is laughing at you right now.

Well, I am confused. If Bluetooth is capable of transmitting the digital signal to the headset (FLAC, MP4 or whatever), why would this be different from a cable? There are only zero's and one's (for analog I would completly agree, but digital?); it is about the DAC and amp inside the headset. Is this not a bit like "you need to have those 24k golden connectors with stupidly expensive wiring (which no manufacturer used inside the equipment to begin with) if you want good music"?

 

[6836838]

False. If Apple moves to a mostly Bluetooth connection scheme, it will adversely affect audio quality, period.

If Apple removes the 3.5, it will require a connector to achieve the prior quality, or a new set of cans.

The reality is that unless they have rewritten the BT Spec so that it can pass 256kbps AAC stereo, it will be officially worse without a dongle. The quality of the encode you buy from the store will be technically superior than the protocol charged with getting it to your ears.

I'd like to say it's not the case, but that's what we're staring at right now. My money is on a Lightning DAC adapter in the box, and as an investor, that pisses me off.

Unfortunately I think they will throw in lightening buds and require us to go out and buy the adapter. As an investor too, I'm also shocked at this move. But not surprised.
[doublepost=1462888507][/doublepost]

Well, I am confused. If Bluetooth is capable of transmitting the digital signal to the headset (FLAC, MP4 or whatever), why would this be different from a cable? There are only zero's and one's (for analog I would completly agree, but digital?); it is about the DAC and amp inside the headset. Is this not a bit like "you need to have those 24k golden connectors with stupidly expensive wiring (which no manufacturer used inside the equipment to begin with) if you want good music"?

You are clearly confused.

 

[JGRE]

Every audiophile is the country is laughing at you right now.

Would an audiophile be listing to music over a iPhone?
[doublepost=1462888584][/doublepost]

Unfortunately I think they will throw in lightening buds and require us to go out and buy the adapter. As an investor too, I'm also shocked at this move. But not surprised.
[doublepost=1462888507][/doublepost]
You are clearly confused.

Well than explain it to me please......

 

[6836838]

Well, I am confused. If Bluetooth is capable of transmitting the digital signal to the headset (FLAC, MP4 or whatever), why would this be different from a cable? There are only zero's and one's (for analog I would completly agree, but digital?); it is about the DAC and amp inside the headset. Is this not a bit like "you need to have those 24k golden connectors with stupidly expensive wiring (which no manufacturer used inside the equipment to begin with) if you want good music"?

BT is not capable of streaming a native FLAC stream in stereo. You need to understand bitrate. The quality of the DAC is of little consequence in BT phones if the native stream (at the original bitrate) can't reach it!
[doublepost=1462888917][/doublepost]

Would an audiophile be listing to music over a iPhone?
[doublepost=1462888584][/doublepost]

Yes. With quality custom buds via high bitrate or lossless sources. The 3DAC in an iphone6S is very highly regarded in the audiophile community. Many would say you'll need to spend $300+ just on an external DAC to beat it.

 

[Mac 128]

The only way Apple surprises us is that either they are going to offer a new protocol that lets Bluetooth perform better (and as stated before, it exists but you give up remote controls), or we have to add an adapter to every 3.5mm male jack for eternity.

So yes, you can wait around and be surprised. We won't be. This is how it works, end of story.

Such hyperbole. Right, there are so many ways Apple can dissapoint us come September as they are completely out of technological innovation and surprises, and that's the way it will be for "eternity"! So, the 3.5mm adapter and corded audio devices will be the quality standard forever, wireless audio will never evolve, ever? "End of story" indeed.

I've always found the Beats connection to be the strongest thing against this rumor. With iOS only having about 1/4th of the market, Beats would have to split all of their SKUs. They'd also have to still sell 3.5mm headphones to Android (and Mac) customers at the same time that they're claiming Lightning to be superior. It may convince some people over to iPhone, but it could weaken the Beats brand as a whole. Eventually Beats will have to also support USB-C audio or whatever format wins in the Android ecosystem.

As "fashion" headphones, you've got a lot of colors of a lot of models already... Then you've got to split those models by connection. I'd expect Samsung's response to Lightning audio to be quick. In one year, stores will have to carry 3.5mm, Lightning, and USB-C headphones. That's a whole lot of SKUs from all the different headphone brands.

Unless the iPhone 7 is USB-C.

Wrong. Do a little research. New headphones will come with a common port which output analogue and digital audio, including wireless headphones. Many already do now. The user plugs in whatever cable they need for whatever device they want to connect to. There will likely be some very clever hybrid cables that have a three-sided plug with USB-C on one side, Lightning on the other, and a fold out 3.5mm on the third side.

To-reiterate -- 1 sku for the headphone, three dedicated cables, cables with multiple connectors on the same cord.

 

[6836838]

Well, I am confused. If Bluetooth is capable of transmitting the digital signal to the headset (FLAC, MP4 or whatever), why would this be different from a cable? There are only zero's and one's (for analog I would completly agree, but digital?); it is about the DAC and amp inside the headset. Is this not a bit like "you need to have those 24k golden connectors with stupidly expensive wiring (which no manufacturer used inside the equipment to begin with) if you want good music"?

You're forgetting that to stream over BT, there is likely compression involved before it's hitting the DAC in the BT buds.

 

[knemonic]

USB C certainly would be less contentious than a lightning port on an iPhone . Guess if this was the case then the rumour will would have put put something out there a few months ago. It doesn't really sound very Apple-esque to use too many standards out there though, they kind of like the £30 charge for a new lead that cost nearly a £1 to produce.

Agreed, but it's not like usb-c is cheap either. Their cables and power adapters are quite expensive, but frankly I do like the ease of mind that comes with that price, cause I've read far too many articles on sub par components used on inferior knock offs.

I also think the backlash of both removing the lightning cable and 3.5 would just kick them in the junk. One port they can handle but two ports? After everyone has bought a billion lightning cables? Ya people wouldn't be happy. But honestly I would rather have w standard cable, than lightning, less to carry around, everywhere you go you can prob find chargers (in time that is, till C really gets going).

 

[6836838]

To-reiterate -- 1 sku for the headphone, three dedicated cables, cables with multiple connectors on the same cord.

What a mess! All that effort where we could just have stuck with a jack. Fine, allow people to add expensive DAC's via lightening, but don't remove the damn jack. Can't people see that Apple are not doing this to benefit the consumer? They are adding NOTHING and taking something away that the majority of people are perfectly happy with. 'Digital Audio' is nothing but a big con unless humans are now capable of listening to music in binary.